The internet is having a moment with any sort of blackhead removal—hello, Dr. Pimple Popper. YouTube is flooded with videos showing people evacuating muck from there skin, from a tiny plug of goo being pulled from a pore to grotesque expulsions of pus-filled, cheese-like cysts. I get it. It's so satisfyingly gross. Recently, this online obsession started to invade my offline life. My friends have been asking me about DIY blackhead removal hacks that they’ve seen on Pinterest, Youtube, or Instagram, asking for my "expert" opinion. The two key points to their inquiry: Is it safe and does it work?

To be honest, I didn't know the answer. But I'm wary of most DIY experiments on the internet, especially when they're performed on the sensitive skin of your face. So, I spoke with two different dermatologists to get their take on the most popular DIY blackhead removal hacks. Some did not pass the doctors' standards for safety and efficacy (I’m looking at you Elmer’s glue). And those that did get the green light, I put to the test. Check out which hacks worked, which ones didn’t, and which were too questionable to even test.

Before we go any further, these are the popular online blackhead hacks that dermatologists told me are absolutely, positively a bad idea. Please don't try these at home. (I didn't.)

Don't: Elmer’s glue pore strip

The blackhead hack I was most anxious about testing out was not dermatologist approved—phew. This hack has been making its rounds on the internet for quite some time. The glue is meant to act as a pore strip, drying to the area and peeling off, supposedly taking some dirt with it. But both dermatologists I spoke to advised against this one. “With glue, there are ingredients in it that may cause allergic or irritant skin reactions,” explains RealSelf contributor Sejal Shah, M.D. “It may also clog your pores causing more blackheads.” Dermatologist Manjula Jegasothy, M.D., claims that she’s seen patients develop strong contact dermatitis after giving this hack a try.

Don't: Toothpaste, baking soda, and water mask

Though toothpaste, baking soda, and water sound like they make a harmless combo, there's plenty that can go wrong—and not all that much likely to go right. People have been using toothpaste as a DIY acne spot treatment for years, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. Baking soda is no magic potion either. “Toothpaste and baking soda can both be very damaging to the skin, causing dryness and irritation,” explains Shah. Jegasothy adds, “I have seen more patients have problems from applying toothpaste to their face than to have ever successfully treated their blackheads.” Verdict: Not worth it.

Don't: Vaseline, plastic wrap, and manual extractions

The last blackhead hack the pros shot down is anything that involves doing extractions at home. Extractions are when a person unclogs pores by pressing and squeezing the skin to force out whatever's in there, and they should only be done by estheticians and facialists. While extractions could potentially help clear blackheads, DIY attempts can be very harmful to the skin. An improper extraction can cause redness, irritation, and maybe even scarring. The internet might tell you that if you slather on a layer of Vaseline on your face, cover the area with plastic wrap, and put a hot towel over it, it will open the pores and soften the debris for easy extractions. Um, wrong. “It may be a great option if you are struggling with dry skin,” Shah says. “However, applying Vaseline to the skin may actually promote the development of clogged pores and acne.” Which is, of course, exactly the opposite of the point.

Now that our "don’ts" are out of the way, here's what happened when I put a couple derm-approved DIY solutions to the test.

This is another one of those pore strip alternatives. The paper towels act as the sheet of the mask and the egg white hardens while providing all the effective benefits. “Egg whites have astringent and exfoliating properties,” explains Shah. “They’re also rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, which can benefit the skin.” This means overall brighter results. While it is mostly safe, you should be aware that raw egg can sometimes contain the bacteria salmonella. However, as SELF reported before, the chances of this are unlikely.

How to make it: All you need for this recipe is one egg white, a large paper towel, and a face brush. Start by beating and stirring the egg white in a bowl until it's frothy. Then, paint the egg white onto blackhead-affected areas (typically the nose and chin). Next, place a strip of a paper towel over the areas before brushing on another layer of whipped egg. Let this dry for about half an hour, then peel up and off. Rinse your face when finished to remove any excess egg residue.

My experience: When I started applying the egg white to my skin, it was kind of runny. But when the paper towel went over it, I thought, Ok, I see where this is going. The second layer of egg white smoothed everything down and adhered all the layers together. The DIY sheet mask was comfortable to wear and didn’t smell like much of anything. I left it on for about 40 minutes. The paper towel dried very hard, kind of like papier-mâché. Although it stuck and stayed on nicely, it was really easy to peel off, which made me think of something Jegasothy had warned me about: “Because it’s so fragile, it won’t be strong enough to lift any but the most superficial of blackheads." She was pretty on the money. Sure, the DIY pulled away a few spots and my nose definitely felt smoother, but I could still see the dark dots on the surface of my skin.

Based just on the ingredients themselves, this is a skin-safe hack (unless you're allergic to gelatin or milk, of course). But there were hesitations from the doctor’s end. Shah warned me, “My concern here is that the gelatin component in this mask may adhere very strongly to the skin and cause a lot of discomfort when peeling off, leaving the skin red, angry, and irritated.” I decided to go ahead with the DIY mask anyway, and, well, read on for how that went.

How to make it: Mix 1 tablespoon of Knox Unflavored Gelatin and 1.5 teaspoons of milk together and put in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Then, quickly, apply the mixture to the face. It hardens fast. Once the mask has dried—which takes about 15 minutes—you can peel off.

My experience: Holy painful. I was aware after speaking with Shah that it was going to hurt a bit while peeling off. But, boy, did I overestimate my pain tolerance.

The concoction was really quick and easy to make and stuck to the skin for simple application. However, unflavored gelatin stinks! And while applying the stinky goop to my face was easy enough, pulling it off was another story. It dried holding my skin in place without any give. I couldn’t move my mouth past a certain point. Think about how a clay mask dries, except there's no cracking to loosen the mask. After about 15 minutes of drying, I carefully and slowly pulled it off. My roommate was taking pictures and cheering me on—“Just tear it off fast! Like wax!”—but it was so stuck on I was nervous my skin might peel away with the blackheads if I went too fast. It was extra painful when the gelatin started pulling up baby hairs around my jaw (ouch!). So once I peeled off my chin and nose area, I chickened out and rinsed off the rest. My face started turning so red and I was getting nervous.

While painful, it sure did work. Every pore was completely cleared out and empty of any dark dirt. And although my face was pretty red after, the redness cleared up after about 10 minutes. I put on a little toner to help cleanse the pores and moisturizer to calm the skin. It felt smooth, clean, and clear. So my thoughts? Effective—but not worth it in the end. Honestly, blackheads just don’t bother me enough to go through it again.

My verdict? It's better to buy than DIY.

Overall, I think I’ll stick to store-bought options and that spa visit every so often for my blackhead removals. After all, you can buy a box of Bioré strips ($12) or a Yes to Tomatoes charcoal mask ($16) at your local drugstore. And while DIY typically provides a cheaper option, it’s hard to argue that point in this case. Especially when, more often than not, it isn’t safe for your skin. They say pain is beauty. But in my opinion, it shouldn’t have to be.

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